JP7407858B2 - How to generate a lattice support structure outside the lattice exclusion area - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure generally relates to systems, apparatus, and methods for generating printed output of components.

Advances in three-dimensional (3D) printing in recent years have led to widespread use of 3D printing in the production and manufacturing of goods. For example, 3D printers may be used to generate printouts of components such as air-oil separators or heat exchangers, among many other examples. Although multiple techniques for 3D printing exist, most techniques involve adding successive layers of material to reproduce a component that was originally modeled using a computer-aided design (CAD) program.

In one embodiment, a method performed by a printing device includes receiving modeling data defining a three-dimensional solid model of a component body having a plurality of faces and a plurality of edges. Each surface abuts another surface of the component body at each edge of the component body. The method further includes examining one or more faces of the component body to identify one or more loop shapes, the method having a boundary formed based at least in part on the one or more faces of the component body corresponding to the loop shape. including defining a grid exclusion region. Additionally, the method includes generating a printout of the component body and a lattice support structure for the component body. The printout of the grid support structure is outside the grid exclusion area.

In one embodiment, a method performed by a printing device includes receiving modeling data that defines a three-dimensional solid model of a component body having a plurality of faces and a plurality of edges. Each surface abuts another surface of the component body at each edge of the component body. The method further includes examining one or more sides of the component body to identify one or more loops. Each of the loops includes each of the one or more edges of the component body. Additionally, the method includes identifying one or more faces of the component body that correspond to the identified loops and defining a grid exclusion region having a boundary formed based at least in part on the identified corresponding faces. including. The method also includes generating a printout of the component body and a lattice support structure for the component body. The printout of the grid support structure is outside the grid exclusion area.

1 illustrates a printing system according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a printing device in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. FIG. 2 illustrates an example printout in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method performed by a printing device in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. 2 illustrates a simplified solid model of a component body in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. 2 illustrates a solid model of another component body in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. 3 illustrates a lattice exclusion region in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. 3 illustrates a lattice exclusion region in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. 4 illustrates a lattice unit cell in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. 3 illustrates tiling of a lattice unit cell in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein; FIG. 2 illustrates a solid model of a component body in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. 2 illustrates a solid model of a component body in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method performed by a printing device in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. 3 illustrates a lattice exclusion region in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. 3 illustrates another lattice exclusion region in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. 2 illustrates an example printout in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method performed by a printing device in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein.

These and other features and characteristics of the present technology, techniques of operation and function of relevant elements of construction, combinations of parts, and economies of manufacture will be further described in the following description and accompanying patent claims with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will become clearer in view of the scope, all of which form part of this specification, and like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be clearly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description only and are not intended to define limitations of the invention. As used in this specification and the claims, the singular form "a," "an," and the like include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

To provide additional structural support to printed components, 3D printers can generate lattice support structures for the components. Such a support structure can take the form of a tiling of lattice unit cells, potentially resulting in a 3D honeycomb or other lattice-like structure. To generate the lattice support structure, the 3D printer (or a printing device communicatively connected to the 3D printer) generates a solid model of the lattice unit cells into which the lattice unit cells are tiled or copied into the support structure. may be provided with an output bound that generates The 3D printer can then produce a printed output (eg, a physical output (ie, a printed article) or a data output (eg, a page description language (PDL) print job) of the component along with the grid support structure.

However, within the output boundary there may be regions where tiling of the lattice unit cells does not occur. For example, creating a lattice support structure within the air passages of a component can impede air flow and compromise temperature control of the component.

Disclosed herein are printing systems, printing apparatus, and methods for producing printed output of a grid support structure outside of a grid exclusion region. In some embodiments, a printing device receives modeling data that defines a three-dimensional solid model of a component body having multiple faces and multiple edges. Each of the faces abuts another face of the component body at each edge of the component body. The printing device examines the one or more faces of the component body to identify the one or more loop shapes and creates a grid exclusion having a boundary formed based at least in part on the one or more faces of the component body corresponding to the loop shapes. Define the area. The printing device produces a printout of the component body and a grid support structure for the component body. The printout of the grid support structure is outside the grid exclusion area. By producing a printout of the lattice support structure outside the lattice exclusion area, it is possible to ensure that the lattice support structure formed by the loop shape does not block the area. Various embodiments of printing systems, printing apparatus, and methods for producing printed outputs of a grid support structure outside a grid exclusion area will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a printing system according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein. As shown, the printing system 100 includes a printing device 102, a printer 104 communicatively connected to the printing device 102 via a communication link 114, and a network 108 and a printer 104 communicating with the printing device 102 via a respective communication link 116. including a computing terminal 106 operably connected thereto.

Printing device 102 may take the form of any device capable of performing the printing device functions described herein. Thus, printing device 102 may take the form of a server computer, mainframe, virtual machine, workstation, terminal, personal computer, or any combination of these or other printing devices. Printing device 102 will be described in further detail below.

Printer 104 may take the form of a three-dimensional (3D) printer and may, for example, produce output by outputting successive layers that collectively form the output. The thickness of a given layer can range, for example, from tens of micrometers to hundreds of micrometers, among others. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, various processes for depositing the layers are possible. Additional aspects of printing output with a 3D printer are discussed below.

Computing terminal 106 may be a workstation, terminal, personal computer, tablet device, or any combination thereof, as some examples. Computing terminal 106 can include a keyboard and mouse for receiving input (eg, from a user) and a display for presenting images or other output to the user. As another possibility, computing terminal 106 may include a touch display for receiving input from a user and presenting output to the user. Printing device 102 may, for example, send commands to computing terminal 106 to output information sent from printing device 102 to computing terminal 106 or provide instructions to computing terminal 106 to provide received information to printing device 102. By sending, inputs and/or outputs can be received via the user interface of computing terminal 106. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that computing terminal 106 may take other forms without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Network 108 may include one or more computing systems and at least one network infrastructure configured to facilitate data transfer between one or more entities communicatively coupled to network 108. Network 108 may include one or more wide area networks (WANs) and/or local area networks (LANs), which may be wired and/or wireless networks. In some examples, network 108 can include the Internet and/or one or more wireless cellular networks, among other possibilities. Network 108 may operate according to one or more communication protocols, such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Internet Protocol (IP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), and long-term evolution (LTE). Although network 108 is shown as a single network, it should be understood that network 108 may itself include multiple different networks that are communicatively linked. Network 108 can also take other forms.

Communication link 114 can take the form of a link that can transfer data between printing device 102 and printer 104. For example, the communication link may take the form of a serial RS-232 communication link, a USB communication link, a Wi-Fi communication link, and/or an Ethernet communication link, among many other possibilities.

Communication link 116 may communicatively link each entity with network 108 and facilitate communication between entities communicatively coupled to network 108 . Any of the communication links 116 may be a combination of hardware and/or software operating on one or more communication link layers, such as perhaps one or more physical layers, network layers, transport layers, and/or application layers. It's okay.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that printing system 100 can include different and/or additional entities. For example, printing device 100 may include an additional printing device communicatively connected to printer 104, an additional three-dimensional printer communicatively connected to printing device 102 and/or other printing devices, or a combination thereof. can include. Different and/or additional communication links may exist, such as one or more communication links connecting printer 104 to network 108. In some embodiments, printing device 102, printer 104, and/or computing terminal 106 may be combined into a single printing device. For example, in some embodiments, printing device 102 and printer 104 may be combined within a printing device without a connecting link. In some embodiments, printing device 102 and computing terminal 106 may be combined into a single printing device. In some embodiments, printing device 102, printer 104, and computing terminal 106 may be combined into a single printing device. Other examples are possible as well, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of printing device 102 in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. As shown, printing device 102 includes a processor 202, a data storage device 204 having instructions 205, a communications interface 206, and a user interface 208, each communicatively coupled via a system bus 210. However, it should be understood that printing device 102 may include different and/or additional components. For example, in one embodiment, printing device 102 does not include user interface 208.

Processor 202 may take the form of one or more general purpose processors and/or one or more special purpose processors, including, by way of example, data storage 204 , communication interface 206 , user interface 208 , and/or other functions of printing device 102 . Can be integrated in whole or in part with any component. Thus, processor 202 may be a controller, integrated circuit, microchip, central processing unit (CPU), microprocessor, system on a chip (SoC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or, among other possibilities. It may take the form of or include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

Data storage device 204 may include a hard drive, solid state drive, erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), universal serial bus (USB) storage device, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), to name a few. , a digital versatile disc (DVD), a relational database management system (RDBMS), any other non-volatile storage device, or any combination thereof. can.

Instructions 205 may be stored in data storage device 204 and include machine language instructions executable by processor 202 to cause printing device 102 to perform printing device functions described herein. Additionally or alternatively, instructions 205 may include script instructions executable by a script interpreter configured to cause processor 202 and printing device 102 to execute instructions specified in the script instructions. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that instructions 205 may take other forms and other data may be stored in data storage 204.

Communication interface 206 may be any component capable of performing the communication interface functions described herein. Accordingly, communications interface 206 may take the form of an Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and/or USB interface, among many other examples. Communication interface 206 can receive data via network 108 via communication link 114 and/or communication link 116, for example. By way of example, communication interface 206 may facilitate communication between printing device 102 and printer 104 via communication link 114 or communication with computing terminal 106 via network 108 via communication link 116. You can make it easier.

User interface 208 may be any component capable of performing the user interface functions described herein. For example, user interface 208 may be configured to receive input from and/or output information to the user. User input may be accomplished via a keyboard, mouse, or another component communicatively linked to printing device 102. As another possibility, input may be realized via a touch screen display of printing device 102. Output to a user may be provided via a computer monitor or loudspeakers (such as computer speakers) communicatively linked to printing device 102, by way of example. Some components can provide both input and output, such as the touch screen display mentioned above. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that user interface 208 can take many other forms as well.

System bus 210 may be any component capable of performing the system bus functions described herein. In one embodiment, system bus 210 is configured to transfer data between processor 202, data storage 204, communication interface 206, user interface 208, and/or any other components of printing device 102. Any component. In one embodiment, system bus 210 includes a conventional bus as known in the art. In other embodiments, system bus 210 may include a serial RS-232 communication link, a USB communication link, and/or an Ethernet communication link, alone or in combination with a conventional computer bus, among many other possibilities. including. In some examples, system bus 210 may be formed from any medium capable of transmitting signals, such as conductive wires, conductive traces, or optical waveguides, among other possibilities. Those skilled in the art will recognize that system bus 210 can also take various other forms.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example printout in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. As shown, print output 300 includes component output 302 and grid output 304. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the printed output 300 can include different and/or additional outputs, such as, by way of example, different and/or additional components, different and/or additional lattice support structure outputs, or combinations thereof. It will be understood that this can include.

Component output 302 takes the form of a component output such as an air-oil separator or a heat exchanger, among many other possibilities. For ease of explanation, component output 302 is shown as a component output in the form of a solid cube having holes 310, 312, 314, 316, and 318. Each hole extends from the top surface of the cube to the bottom surface (not shown) of the cube.

Lattice output 304 is the output of a lattice support structure for the component and can serve to provide additional structural support to the component. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the lattice support structure is inside hole 310, but not inside holes 312-318, which are smaller than hole 310. These smaller holes can serve to provide airflow and temperature control to the component, and having a lattice support structure inside these smaller holes can impede airflow and provide proper temperature control. may be hindered.

Print output 300 may be generated by printing device 102, for example via printer 104. In one embodiment, generating the print output includes printing device 102 sending print instructions to printer 104 via communication link 114, the print instructions causing printer 104 to output the print output. In other embodiments, printing device 102 and printer 104 are integrated into a single device, and generating the print output includes printing device 102 outputting the print output via the integrated printing device. Other examples of producing printed output are also possible.

A lattice exclusion area may be defined for the component to prevent output of the lattice support structure inside the holes 312-318. Printing device 102 may generate the printed output to exclude the output of the grid support structure from the grid exclusion region. Further examples of grid exclusion regions are described below.

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of a method performed by a printing device in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. Although the method is described below as being performed by printing device 102, it should be understood that the method may be performed by any entity or combination of entities in printing system 100.

As shown in FIG. 4, method 400 begins at step 402 with printing device 102 receiving modeling data defining a three-dimensional (3D) solid model of a component body.

FIG. 5 illustrates a simplified solid model of a component body in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. In the illustrated embodiment, the solid model of the component body 500 takes the form of a three-dimensional solid surrounded by closed faces and having a given volume defined by the bounds of the enclosed three-dimensional solid. For example, as shown, the solid model of component body 500 takes the form of a solid cube, but it is understood that the solid model can take the form of solid models having different geometries or combinations of geometries. be understood. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the solid model of component body 500 can take many other forms without departing from the scope of the claims.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, component body 500 has multiple faces and multiple edges, each face meeting another face of the component body at a respective edge of the component body. For example, as shown, the component body 500 includes a face 502, a face 504, and a face 506, an edge 512, an edge 514, an edge 516, an edge 518, an edge 522, an edge 524, an edge 526, an edge 532, and an edge 534. including. Surface 502 meets surface 504 at edge 514, or in other words, surface 504 meets surface 502 at edge 514. Additionally, surface 502 meets surface 506 at edge 516 (ie, surface 506 meets surface 502 at edge 516). Additionally, surface 504 meets surface 506 at edge 526 (ie, surface 506 meets surface 504 at edge 526).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that component body 500, specifically the faces and edges of the component body, can include additional faces and/or edges. For example, because the solid model of component body 500 in the illustrated embodiment takes the form of a solid cube, component 500 has three additional faces not shown in FIG. 5 , an additional surface opposite surface 504 , and an additional surface opposite surface 506 , including additional edges not shown in FIG. 5 .

FIG. 6 illustrates a solid model of another component body in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. In the illustrated embodiment, the solid model of component body 600 takes the form of the model of component output 302 shown in FIG. Similar to component body 500, component body 600 has multiple faces and multiple edges, each face meeting another face of the component body at a respective edge of the component body. For example, as shown, component body 600 includes face 602, face 604, and face 606, edge 622, edge 624, edge 626, edge 628, edge 632, edge 634, edge 636, edge 642, and edge 644. including. Surface 602 meets surface 604 at edge 624, or in other words, surface 604 meets surface 602 at edge 624. Additionally, surface 602 meets surface 606 at edge 626 (ie, surface 606 meets surface 602 at edge 626). Additionally, surface 604 meets surface 606 at edge 636 (ie, surface 606 meets surface 604 at edge 636).

Further, component body 600 includes a surface 610, a surface 612, a surface 614, a surface 616, and a surface 618, each of which takes the form of a respective cylindrical surface. Component body 600 further includes edges 650, edges 652, edges 654, edges 656, and edges 658, and faces 610, 612, 614, 616, and 618 are faces at edges 650, 652, 654, 656, and 658, respectively. It touches 602.

Accordingly, in step 402 of FIG. 4, printing device 102 may receive modeling data that defines the solid model shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6, or both, among other possibilities. Modeling data may include, by way of example, computer-aided design (CAD) files or other modeling data. Modeling data can be received from data storage 204 or can be received from computing terminal 106 via communication interface 206 , for example, via communication link 116 and network 108 . As another example, modeling data may be received via a user interface, such as user interface 208 of printing device 102 or user interface of computing terminal 106, among other possibilities. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other examples of modeling data (and receipt of modeling data) are possible without departing from the scope of the claims.

At step 404, printing device 102 examines one or more surfaces of the component body and identifies one or more cylindrical surfaces among the examined surfaces. Examining the surfaces may include identifying, for each of the examined surfaces, whether the respective surface is a cylindrical surface. For example, the printing device may examine surfaces 602-606 and 610-618 of component body 600 and identify one or more of the examined surfaces as a cylindrical surface, ie, surfaces 610-618. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that different and/or additional surfaces (eg, one or more surfaces of component body 600 not shown in FIG. 6) may also be examined.

Examining surfaces 602-606 and 610-618 of component body 600 may include examining these surfaces to identify cylindrical surfaces having respective diameters less than a threshold diameter. In one example, surface 610 has a diameter d1 and each of surfaces 612-618 has a respective diameter d2. As reflected in FIG. 6, the diameter of surface 610 is larger than the diameter of each of surfaces 612-618. The diameter d1 is larger than the threshold diameter dt, and the diameter d2 is smaller than the threshold diameter d2.

In this example, printing device 102 examines surfaces 602-606 and 610-618 and identifies surfaces 612-618 (which are cylindrical surfaces with respective diameters d2 less than a threshold diameter dt), but surfaces 602-606 ( 610 (which is a cylindrical surface but does not have a diameter less than the threshold diameter).

Examining one or more sides of the component body 600 can include examining one of the sides of the component body, or examining multiple sides of the component body. For example, examining a face of the component body 600 may include receiving an indication of one or more faces of the component body and then examining the indicated face. Printing device 102 can receive an indication of the threshold diameter. An indication of the surface to be examined, an indication of the threshold diameter, or both may be received via a user interface or a communication interface, among other possibilities.

At step 406, printing device 102 defines a grid exclusion region having a boundary formed based at least in part on the identified cylindrical surface (among the surfaces examined at step 404). In one example, in step 404, printing device 102 identifies surfaces 612-618 (e.g., because these surfaces are cylindrical surfaces with respective diameters less than a threshold diameter) and, in step 406, prints Apparatus 102 defines a grid exclusion region having a boundary formed based at least in part on identified surfaces 612-618.

FIG. 7 illustrates a grid exclusion region in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. As shown, the grid exclusion region 700 has a boundary formed based on surfaces 612-618 of the component body 600, in this example the cylindrical surface of the component body identified in step 404. The grid exclusion areas correspond to the holes 312-318 of the component output 302 shown in FIG. 3, which may be used for airflow and temperature control, as described above.

In some embodiments, the grid exclusion area may be further expanded, for example, to create additional open space to facilitate airflow. For example, defining the grid exclusion region may include deriving one or more cross-sections of the grid exclusion region.

FIG. 8 illustrates another lattice exclusion region in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. In the illustrated embodiment, grid exclusion region 800 has a boundary formed based at least in part on surfaces 602 - 608 of component body 600 . Additionally, grating exclusion region 800 has cross sections 802, 804, 806, and 808. The grating exclusion region further includes cross sections 814, 816, and 818 opposite cross sections 804, 806, and 808, respectively, and further includes a cross section (not shown) opposite cross section 802. As shown in FIG. 8, defining the lattice exclusion region 800 includes pulling a cross section away from the lattice exclusion region, causing an enlargement of the lattice exclusion region. It will be appreciated that the lattice exclusion region may include different and/or additional cross sections, and that defining the lattice exclusion region may include deriving all or some of these cross sections.

Returning to FIG. 4, in step 408, printing device 102 generates a printout of the component body and a grid support structure for the component body. The printout of the grid support structure is outside the grid exclusion area.

By way of example, the printout may take the form of a printout 300 shown in FIG. 3, which includes a component output 302 of a component (such as component body 600) and a lattice output 304 of a lattice support structure of the component. include. The grating output 304 may then take the form of a grating support structure within the grating fill region but outside the grating exclusion region.

FIG. 9A illustrates a lattice unit cell and FIG. 9B illustrates tiling of the lattice unit cell in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. As shown in FIG. 9A, the lattice unit cell 900 takes the form of a cubic space with a solid model of geometric shape, and as shown in FIG. 9B, the tiling 950 of the lattice unit cell 900 has a cubic honeycomb. It includes a plurality of tiles of lattice unit cells that collectively form a grid. In some embodiments, the lattice unit cells may take the form of any parallelepipeds (e.g., three-dimensional polygons such as cuboids), and the tilings may take the form of any honeycombs (e.g., cubic honeycombs). Can be done. Also shown in FIG. 9B are the boundaries of the lattice fill region 960. Tiling 950 takes the form of a tiling of lattice unit cells 900 within the lattice fill region (ie, within the boundaries of the lattice fill region). Note that FIG. 9B does not depict or illustrate grid exclusion regions.

In one implementation, the grid output 304 takes the form of a tiling grid unit cell 900. The tiling is within the grid fill region 960 but outside the grid exclusion region 700. In one such embodiment, the printout of the lattice support structure is outside the lattice exclusion area following the derivation of the cross section of the lattice exclusion area. For example, the lattice support structure output may take the form of tiling of lattice unit cells within the lattice fill region but outside the lattice exclusion region following derivation of a cross section of the lattice exclusion region.

By producing a printout of the lattice support structure that is outside of the lattice exclusion area, we ensure that the lattice support structure does not block areas such as air passages formed by cylindrical surfaces that may function to provide temperature control. It may be possible to do so.

Although the above-described approach may allow defining grid exclusion regions with respect to cylindrical holes in a component, not all air openings through a solid body necessarily take the form of cylindrical holes. Described below is an approach that may enable defining grid exclusion regions for non-cylindrical openings through a solid body.

10A and 10B illustrate respective views of solid models of component bodies in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. As shown in FIG. 10A, component body 1000 has multiple faces and multiple edges, each of the faces meeting another face of the component body at a respective edge of the component body. In the illustrated embodiment, component body 1000 includes face 1002, face 1004, and face 1006, and includes edge 1012, edge 1014, edge 1016, edge 1018, edge 1022, edge 1024, edge 1026, edge 1032, and edge 1034. include. Surface 1002 meets surface 1004 at edge 1014, or in other words, surface 1004 meets surface 1002 at edge 1014. Additionally, surface 1002 meets surface 1006 at edge 1016 (ie, surface 1006 meets surface 1002 at edge 1016). Additionally, surface 1004 meets surface 1006 at edge 1026 (ie, surface 1006 meets surface 1004 at edge 1026). Additionally, component body 100 includes an edge 1042 and a surface 1052 that interfaces with surface 1002 at edge 1042.

As shown in FIG. 10B, component body 1000 further includes face 1008, edge 1044, edge 1062, and edge 1064. Surface 1008 contacts surface 1004 at edge 1024, surface 1006 at edge 1032, and surface 1052 at edge 1044.

FIG. 11 depicts a flowchart of a method performed by a printing device in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. Although the method is described below as being performed by printing device 102, it should be understood that the method may be performed by any entity or combination of entities in printing system 100.

As shown in FIG. 11, method 1100 begins at step 1102, where printing device 102 receives modeling data that defines a 3D solid model of component body 1000. Receiving modeling data can take a form similar to that described above with respect to step 402 of method 400 shown in FIG. For example, modeling data defining a 3D model of component body 1000 may take the form of (or include) a computer-aided design (CAD) file or other modeling data, by way of example. Modeling data may be received from data storage 204 or may be received from computing terminal 106 via communication interface 206 , such as via network 108 via communication link 116 . As another example, modeling data may be received via a user interface, such as user interface 208 of printing device 102 or user interface of computing terminal 106, among other possibilities. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other examples of modeling data (and receipt of modeling data) are possible without departing from the scope of the claims.

At step 1104, printing device 102 examines one or more sides of component body 1000 to identify one or more loops. Each of the loops includes one or more respective edges of component body 1000. For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, edge 1042 forms a loop within surface 1002, and as shown in FIG. 10B, edge 1044 forms a loop within surface 1008. Other examples of loops can include edges within face 1002 (or another face) that form a polygon, such as a triangle or square. A further example of a loop is a circle, such as the edge 650 of the face 602 of the component body 600. Other examples of loops are possible as well.

Examining the surfaces at step 1104 may include, for each of the examined surfaces, identifying one or more loops in each surface. For example, the printing device can examine surfaces 1002-1008 and 1052 of component body 1000 and identify one or more loops, or edges 1042 and 1044, within the examined surfaces. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that different and/or additional surfaces (eg, one or more surfaces of component body 1000 not shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B) may also be examined.

At step 1106, printing device 102 identifies one or more planes that correspond to the loops identified at step 1004. As an example, as shown in FIG. 10A, surface 1052 corresponds to loop 1042, and as shown in FIG. 10B, surface 1052 corresponds to loop 1044. Other examples may include multiple faces corresponding to a given loop with multiple edges. For example, a loop containing three edges (in the form of a triangle) can include three corresponding faces, each of which is tangent to a given examined face containing the loop, specifically: Each edge of the triangle touches a given examined face.

At step 1108, printing device 102 defines a grid exclusion region having a boundary formed based at least in part on the corresponding plane identified at step 1106.

FIG. 12 illustrates a grid exclusion region in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. As shown, the grid exclusion region 1200 has a boundary formed based on a surface 1052 of the component body 1000, which in this example is the corresponding surface of the component body identified in step 1106.

FIG. 13 illustrates another lattice exclusion region in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. In some embodiments, the grid exclusion area may be further extended to create additional empty space to facilitate air flow, perhaps as previously discussed. For example, defining the grid exclusion region may include deriving one or more cross-sections of the grid exclusion region. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the grid exclusion region 1300 is a boundary formed based on the surface 1052 of the component body 1000, which is the corresponding surface of the component body identified in step 1106 (as in the embodiment of FIG. 12). has.

The grating exclusion region further includes a cross section 1302 and a cross section 1312 opposite the cross section 1302. As shown, defining the lattice exclusion region 1300 includes pulling cross sections 1302 and 1312 away from the lattice exclusion region, causing an enlargement of the lattice exclusion region. Although the example of FIG. 13 depicts extraction of both cross-sections 1302 and 1312, defining the grid exclusion region may include extraction of cross-section 1302 and not extraction of cross-section 1312, or It will be appreciated that the cross-section 1302 may include a drawer and not include a drawer. Additionally, the grid exclusion region may take other forms, for example, if different and/or additional corresponding surfaces are identified in step 1106.

At step 1110, printing device 102 generates a printout of component body 1000 and a grid support structure for the component body. The printout of the grid support structure is outside the grid exclusion area.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example printout in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. As shown, print output 1400 includes component output 1402 and grid output 1404. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the printed output 1400 can include different and/or additional components, such as different and/or additional components, different and/or additional lattice support structure outputs, or combinations thereof. It will be appreciated that output can be included.

Component output 1402 takes the form of the output of component body 1000. In the illustrated embodiment, the component output includes an aperture 1452 extending from a top surface of the component output to a bottom surface (not shown) of the component output. The aperture is associated with a surface 1052 that corresponds to edges 1042 and 1044, both of which are loops.

Lattice output 1404 is the output of the lattice support structure for the component. The grid output is outside the grid exclusion region (such as grid exclusion region 1200 or grid exclusion region 1300). For example, as shown in FIG. 14, no lattice support structure is present inside opening 1452. Openings can serve to provide airflow and temperature control to components, and providing lattice support structures within the openings can impede airflow and prevent proper temperature control. be.

According to one embodiment, the grating output 1404 takes the form of a grating support structure within the grating fill region but outside the grating exclusion region. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 14, the lattice output structure is within the lattice fill region 1460 shown in FIG. 14 and outside the lattice exclusion region 1300 (as shown in FIG. This takes the form of tiling. Further details regarding tiling of lattice unit cells are provided above with reference to FIG. 9B.

By producing a printed output of the lattice support structure outside of the lattice exclusion area, the lattice creates air passage-like areas formed by surfaces corresponding to the identified loops that can serve to provide temperature control. It may be possible to prevent the support structure from blocking.

FIG. 15 depicts a flowchart of a method performed by a printing device in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein. Although the method is described below as being performed by printing device 102, it should be understood that the method may be performed by any entity or combination of entities in printing system 100.

As shown in FIG. 15, method 1500 begins at step 1502, where printing device 102 receives modeling data that defines a 3D solid model of a component body, such as component body 600 or component body 1000. Receiving modeling data can take a form similar to that described above with respect to step 402 of method 400 and/or step 1102 of method 1100.

In step 1504, printing device 102 examines one or more sides of the component body to identify one or more loop shapes, and in step 1506, printing device 102 examines one or more sides of the component body to identify one or more loop shapes, and in step 1506, printing device 102 examines one or more sides of the component body to identify at least Defining a grid exclusion region having a boundary formed in part.

In one embodiment, the loop shape takes the form of a respective cylindrical surface in the surface being investigated, and the surface corresponding to the loop shape takes the form of a cylindrical surface. An example of examining a surface to identify one or more cylindrical surfaces is described above with reference to step 404 of method 400, and includes a grid having boundaries formed based (at least in part) on the identified cylindrical surfaces. An example of defining an exclusion region is described above with reference to step 406 of method 400. In some embodiments, examining the surfaces of the component body includes examining the surfaces to identify cylindrical surfaces that are within the examined surfaces and have respective diameters less than a threshold diameter. In such an embodiment, the loop shape lies within the surface being investigated and can take the form of a cylindrical surface with respective diameters less than a threshold diameter.

In another embodiment, the loop shape takes the form of one or more loops, each loop including one or more respective edges of the component body. In such embodiments, the surface corresponding to the loop shape includes one or more surfaces corresponding to the loop. An example of examining surfaces to identify loops is described above with reference to step 1104, and an example of identifying surfaces corresponding to loops is described above with reference to step 1106. Additionally, an example of defining a grid exclusion region having a boundary formed based at least in part on a corresponding surface is described above with reference to step 1108.

At step 1508, printing device 102 generates a printout of the component body and a grid support structure for the component body. The printout of the grid support structure is outside the grid exclusion area. Generating the printout may take a form similar to that described above with respect to step 408 of method 400 and/or step 1110 of method 1100. The lattice creates air passage-like areas formed by looped geometries that can function to provide temperature control by producing a printed output of the lattice support structure that is outside of the lattice exclusion area. It may be possible to prevent the support structure from blocking.

It should now be understood that the systems, printing devices, and methods described herein produce printed output of a grid support structure that is outside of the grid exclusion region. Accordingly, the grid exclusion region may function to promote airflow through the component and regulate the temperature of the component by preventing output of the grid support structure within or near holes or other openings.

Although particular embodiments have been shown and described herein, it will be understood that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, while various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Further aspects of the invention are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses.

The method is performed by a printing device. The method includes receiving modeling data defining a three-dimensional solid model of a component body having a plurality of faces and a plurality of edges. Each surface abuts another surface of the component body at each edge of the component body. The method further includes examining one or more faces of the component body to identify one or more loop shapes, the method having a boundary formed based at least in part on the one or more faces of the component body corresponding to the loop shape. Define grid exclusion areas. The method further generates a printout of the component body and a lattice support structure for the component body. The printout of the grid support structure is outside the grid exclusion area.

In any of the methods of the preceding clauses, the loop shape includes each of the cylindrical surfaces in the surface being examined, and the surface corresponding to the loop shape includes a cylindrical surface.

In the method of any of the preceding clauses, examining the surface of the component body includes examining the surface to identify cylindrical surfaces that are in the surface being examined, each having a diameter less than a threshold diameter, and wherein the loop shape is The surface to be examined includes cylindrical surfaces, each with a diameter less than a threshold diameter.

In the method of any of the foregoing clauses, examining the surface includes receiving an indication of one or more surfaces of the component body via a user interface, examining the indicated surface, and detecting the one or more cylinders of the indicated surface. Including identifying faces.

In the method of any of the preceding clauses, the loop shape includes one or more loops, each of the loops includes one or more respective edges of the component body, and the surface corresponding to the loop shape includes one or more edges corresponding to the loops. including aspects of

In the method of any of the preceding clauses, inspecting a surface includes receiving an indication of one or more surfaces of the component body via a user interface, examining the indicated surface, and determining one or more of the indicated surfaces. Including identifying loops.

In the method of any of the foregoing clauses, defining the lattice exclusion region includes deriving one or more cross sections of the lattice exclusion region, and the printout of the lattice support structure is formed outside the lattice exclusion region following the extraction of the cross sections. It is in.

In any method of the preceding clauses, the printed output of the grid support structure is within the grid fill area and outside the grid exclusion area.

The method is performed by a printing device. The method includes receiving modeling data defining a three-dimensional solid model of a component body having a plurality of faces and a plurality of edges. Each surface abuts another surface of the component body at each edge of the component body. The method further includes examining one or more sides of the component body to identify one or more loops. Each of the loops includes each of the one or more edges of the component body. The method further identifies one or more faces of the component body that correspond to the identified loops and defines a grid exclusion region having a boundary formed based at least in part on the identified corresponding faces. The method further generates a printout of the component body and a lattice support structure for the component body. The printout of the grid support structure is outside the grid exclusion area.

In the method of any of the foregoing clauses, defining the grid exclusion region includes deriving one or more cross-sections of the grid exclusion region, and the printout of the grid support structure extends outside the grid exclusion region subsequent to the derivation of the cross-sections. be.

In any method of the preceding clauses, the printed output of the grid support structure is within the grid fill area and outside the grid exclusion area.

In any of the preceding clauses, the printed output of the grid support structure includes tiling of grid unit cells within the grid fill area and outside the grid exclusion area.

In the method of any of the preceding clauses, examining the surfaces may include receiving an indication of one or more surfaces of the component body via a user interface and identifying one or more loops of the examined surfaces. This includes examining aspects that have been studied.

In the method of any of the preceding clauses, the printed output of the grid support structure includes tiling of grid unit cells within the grid fill area and outside the grid exclusion area.
(Additional note 1)
A method performed by a printing device, the method comprising:
receiving modeling data defining a three-dimensional solid model of a component body having a plurality of faces and a plurality of edges;
each surface contacts another surface of the component body at each edge of the component body;
examining one or more sides of the component body to identify one or more loop shapes;
defining a lattice exclusion region having a boundary formed based at least in part on one or more faces of the component body corresponding to the loop shape;
generating a printout of the component body and a lattice support structure for the component body;
the printout of the lattice support structure is outside the lattice exclusion area;
Method.
(Additional note 2)
the loop shape includes each of the cylindrical surfaces in the investigated surface;
the surface corresponding to the loop shape includes the cylindrical surface;
The method described in Appendix 1.
(Additional note 3)
Examining a surface of the component body includes examining a surface to identify cylindrical surfaces in the examined surface, each having a diameter less than a threshold diameter;
the loop shape is in the interrogated surface and includes the cylindrical surfaces each having a diameter less than the threshold diameter;
The method described in Appendix 2.
(Additional note 4)
Examining the above aspects is
receiving instructions for one or more surfaces of the component body via a user interface;
examining the indicated surface to identify one or more cylindrical surfaces of the indicated surface;
including
The method described in Appendix 2.
(Appendix 5)
the loop shape includes one or more loops,
each of the loops includes one or more respective edges of the component body;
The surface corresponding to the loop shape includes one or more surfaces corresponding to the loop,
The method described in Appendix 1.
(Appendix 6)
Examining the above aspects is
receiving instructions for one or more surfaces of the component body via a user interface;
examining the indicated surface to identify one or more loops of the indicated surface;
including
The method described in Appendix 5.
(Appendix 7)
Defining the grid exclusion region includes deriving one or more cross-sections of the grid exclusion region;
the printout of the grid support structure is outside the grid exclusion area following the drawing of the cross section;
The method described in Appendix 1.
(Appendix 8)
the printout of the lattice support structure is within the lattice fill area and outside the lattice exclusion area;
The method described in Appendix 1.
(Appendix 9)
the printout of the lattice support structure includes tiling of lattice unit cells within the lattice fill area and outside the lattice exclusion area;
The method described in Appendix 8.
(Appendix 10)
A method performed by a printing device, the method comprising:
receiving modeling data defining a three-dimensional solid model of a component body having a plurality of faces and a plurality of edges;
each surface contacts another surface of the component body at each edge of the component body;
examining one or more sides of the component body to identify one or more loops;
each of the loops includes each of one or more edges of the component body;
identifying one or more sides of the component body that correspond to the identified loop;
defining a grid exclusion region having a boundary formed based at least in part on the identified corresponding surface;
generating a printout of the component body and a lattice support structure for the component body;
the printout of the lattice support structure is outside the lattice exclusion area;
Method.
(Appendix 11)
Defining the grid exclusion region includes deriving one or more cross-sections of the grid exclusion region;
the printout of the lattice support structure is outside the lattice exclusion area following the extraction of the cross section;
The method described in Appendix 10.
(Appendix 12)
the printout of the lattice support structure is within the lattice fill area and outside the lattice exclusion area;
The method described in Appendix 10.
(Appendix 13)
the printout of the lattice support structure includes tiling of lattice unit cells within the lattice fill area and outside the lattice exclusion area;
The method described in Appendix 12.
(Appendix 14)
Examining the surface
receiving instructions for one or more surfaces of the component body via a user interface;
examining the indicated surface to identify one or more loops of the examined surface;
The method described in Appendix 10.

Claims (10)

A method performed by a printing device, the method comprising:
receiving modeling data defining a three-dimensional solid model of a component body having a plurality of faces and a plurality of edges;
each surface abuts another surface of the component body at each edge of the component body;
the plurality of faces of the component body to identify a first loop shape of a first face of the plurality of faces of the component body and a second loop shape of a second face of the plurality of faces of the component body; Investigate,
defining a lattice exclusion region having a boundary formed based on the first surface and the second surface of the component body corresponding to the first loop shape and the second loop shape ;
the boundary extends from the first loop shape on the first side to the second loop shape on the second side;
the lattice support structure occluding a region formed by the boundary extending between the first loop shape and the second loop shape, with the lattice exclusion region defining a space from which the lattice support structure is excluded; prevent,
generating a printout of the component body and the lattice support structure for the component body;
the printout of the lattice support structure is outside the lattice exclusion area;
Method. the first loop shape or the second loop shape each includes a cylindrical surface in the surface to be examined;
the surface corresponding to the first loop shape or the second loop shape includes the cylindrical surface;
The method according to claim 1. Examining a surface of the component body includes examining the surface to identify cylindrical surfaces located in the examined surface, each having a diameter less than a threshold diameter;
the first loop shape or the second loop shape being in the interrogated surface, each comprising the cylindrical surface having a diameter less than the threshold diameter;
The method according to claim 2. Examining multiple said surfaces is
receiving instructions for the plurality of surfaces of the component body via a user interface;
examining the indicated surface to identify one or more cylindrical surfaces of the indicated surface;
including
The method according to claim 2. The first loop shape or the second loop shape includes one or more loops,
each of the loops includes one or more respective edges of the component body;
The plurality of surfaces corresponding to the first loop shape or the second loop shape include one or more surfaces corresponding to the loop,
The method according to claim 1. Examining multiple said surfaces is
receiving instructions for the plurality of surfaces of the component body via a user interface;
examining the indicated surface to identify one or more loops of the indicated surface;
including
The method according to claim 5. Defining the grid exclusion region includes deriving one or more cross-sections of the grid exclusion region;
the printout of the grid support structure is outside the grid exclusion area following the extraction of one or more of the cross sections;
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. the printout of the lattice support structure is within the lattice fill area and outside the lattice exclusion area;
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. the printout of the lattice support structure includes tiling of lattice unit cells within the lattice fill area and outside the lattice exclusion area;
The method according to claim 8. A method performed by a printing device, the method comprising:
receiving modeling data defining a three-dimensional solid model of a component body having a plurality of faces and a plurality of edges;
each surface contacts another surface of the component body at each edge of the component body;
examining one or more faces of the component body to identify a first loop of a first face of the plurality of faces of the component body and a second loop of a second face of the plurality of faces of the component body;
each of the first loop and the second loop includes each of one or more edges of the component body;
identifying one or more surfaces of the component body that correspond to the identified first loop and the identified second loop ;
defining a grid exclusion region having a boundary formed based on the first surface and the second surface of the component body corresponding to the first loop and the second loop ;
the boundary extends from the first loop on the first side to the second loop on the second side;
the lattice exclusion region defines a space from which the lattice support structure is excluded and prevents the lattice support structure from occluding the area formed by the boundary extending between the first loop and the second loop;
generating a printout of the component body and the lattice support structure for the component body;
the printout of the lattice support structure is outside the lattice exclusion area;
Method.

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